In progressDocks
New docks and rebuilds on pressure-treated framing with galvanized hardware, decked in treated lumber or composite.
Fairfield Plantation, Villa Rica
Fairfield Plantation
Docks, seawalls, boathouses and decks from a crew that includes Fairfield Plantation residents.
- 17+ years in the trade
- Licensed and Insured
- Based in Villa Rica, GA
The short answer
Yes, with committee approval.
Developed lake front lots in Fairfield Plantation can have a private dock or slip, as a revocable privilege the Property Compliance Committee approves case by case. Seawalls, deck replacements and covered docks go through the same review.
Ambrose and part of our crew live in Fairfield Plantation. We know the gate, the contractor decal and the committee process because we work inside it. Send us the lot and what you want, and we will tell you what the rules allow before you apply.
The rules
What the POA requires.
Fairfield Plantation is private, and the Property Compliance Committee decides. These come from the POA Rules and Regulations revised February 16, 2026 and the 2025 Lake and Watercraft Rules, with the section number on each. Only the Committee's recorded written decision binds.
Who can build what
A boat dock or slip on a lake front lot "is a privilege." Applications are "reviewed and determined on a case by case basis."
A dock is "a revocable license and privilege granted by the Association." The lake stays Association property, and no dock goes on an undeveloped lot.
On timeshare association shoreline, only community docks are built.
Seawalls are required on Lake Tara lots and are not required on Lake Ashley or Lake Scarlett.
Seawalls
Approved types are plain or grouted riprap, a concrete gravity wall, or pressure-treated wood on a concrete footing. Railroad ties, metal and plastic are prohibited.
A new seawall needs a certified survey in duplicate, a materials list and an erosion and sediment control plan with its checklist.
Call the POA 24 hours before pouring concrete forms for a seawall.
Docks and boathouses
A dock sits 10 feet off the side lot lines (a variance is possible) and reaches no more than 20 feet out from the seawall face, or from the natural shoreline on a Lake Ashley or Lake Scarlett lot with no existing seawall. Decking is pressure-treated or composite, on posts of 4x6 or larger driven 1.5 feet, with no PVC or metal posts.
A covered dock roof tops out 14 feet above normal pool, in a gable or hip of at least 6/12, matches the house, and is asphalt shingle or 28-gauge Galvalume metal. No canvas, and the sides stay open.
Lifts go inside a covered slip, in non-corrosive metal, with no canopy. A personal watercraft lift is limited to 1,000 pounds.
Fences
The highest part of a fence is limited to 4 feet. Interior lots, meaning lots that do not border or front the Association's lakes or golf course and are not corner lots, may go up to 6 feet with the same materials and designs.
Only an "open and decorative design" is allowed: at least 2 inches between pickets, and pickets no wider than 4 inches. "Solid privacy and shadowbox designs are prohibited."
Allowed materials are wood (stained or painted), wood composite, vinyl, plastic, wrought iron, finished aluminum (coated or painted) and steel, with finishes that blend with the exterior color of the house. Welded wire alone is prohibited. With an approved design it must be black or green, sit on the enclosed side and stay no higher than the top rail.
Chain link is "permitted only in the construction of a dog run."
Wrought iron style is required on Lake Tara, Lake Ashley and the golf course. The POA's fence application says the lakes generally, so ask the Committee about Lake Scarlett. On a golf course lot, the rear property line is left open or the fence is built 10 feet from the rear lot line.
Fences stay off the front of the lot, meaning anything forward of the rear corners of the house, and a fence connects to those rear corners unless it only marks the side lot lines. Where something blocks a rear corner, such as a window or a deck, the Committee sets another attachment point on the side of the house. The one reach forward: for access to a side door, a fence may attach to the side of the house up to 10 feet forward of the rear corner. "Placing a fence across the lake front is not allowed." Corner lots follow the diagrams in the Rules.
The fence goes inside the property line, not directly on it, unless both sides of the line sign and agree in writing on the application.
The application needs plans drawn to scale on a plat plan, with height, design and materials. Before any approval, you "must sign the fence indemnity and waiver for the Association," and final approval is "at the sole discretion of the Committee."
A new in-ground pool needs a fence plan with a lockable gate that complies with State and County fence regulations. The pool is not approved without a fence application, and the fence goes in before the pool is filled. A height waiver may be granted with proof of insurance requirements.
The review
Docks, seawalls and replacing an existing deck all need a permit. Replacing or refinishing decking under 50 square feet does not.
Assessments and fines must be paid before you apply. The application needs a plat drawn at no smaller than 1 inch to 40 feet: "no application will be accepted without this drawing." Add a materials list and a construction timeline.
Rules and Regulations, 3.2 and 3.2.2Property Compliance forms
The Committee decides "within thirty days of receipt of all information," unless you ask for a variance. A variance needs 30 days of posted notice and at least five Committee votes. A permit is good for six months.
Rules and Regulations, 3.2.2.4 and 3.2.32026 Committee meeting schedule
Working in the community
Contractors need a commercial decal (driver's license, proof of insurance and tag number) and work Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Not Sundays or holidays.
Debris leaves the property. No dumping, burying or burning.
Lake Tara is the power lake at a 35 mph day limit. Lake Ashley and Lake Scarlett are idle speed, electric or paddle only, which shapes the lift and slip you plan.
What we build
Docks, seawalls and the upkeep.
These photos are from our work in Fairfield Plantation. The seawall at the top is finished. Each photo below is marked Completed or In progress according to where that job stood.
In progress
In progressBoathouses and covered slips
Covered docks with open sides and a roof that matches the house, and lifts set inside the slip as the rules require.
In progressStaining and upkeep
Staining new and weathered decking, plus board and rail repairs, so a dock holds up between rebuilds.
How it goes
From quote request to final inspection.
Confirm the lot
It needs to be a developed lake front lot with assessments and fines paid. A seawall is required first on Lake Tara.
Gather the application
A plat at 1 inch to 40 feet showing dock dimensions, distance from the side lines and the lines extended into the lake. A new seawall adds a certified survey and an erosion plan.
Submit to the Committee
Turn it in 7 days before a meeting. The Lakes and Dams Committee gives a recommendation on docks and seawalls, and the Committee decides within thirty days of a complete file. A variance request is not on that clock.
Get the contractor paperwork in
The insurance certificate, vehicle decal and subcontractor list go to the POA before the first truck rolls in.
Build
Erosion control stays in place, as with a silt curtain on our other lake work, and the POA gets a 24-hour call before any concrete is poured.
Final inspection
The POA inspects after the dock or seawall. The refundable part of the permit deposit is returned within 30 days of a passed inspection.
Questions
Straight answers.
Can I build a private dock in Fairfield Plantation?
On a developed lake front lot, yes, as a revocable privilege reviewed case by case. Undeveloped lots cannot have one, and timeshare shoreline gets community docks only.
Do I need a seawall before a dock?
On Lake Tara, seawalls are required on lots. On Lake Ashley and Lake Scarlett they are not. The dock reach limit of 20 feet is measured from the seawall face, or from the natural shoreline where a Lake Ashley or Lake Scarlett lot has no seawall.
How long does approval take?
The Committee decides within thirty days of receiving all the information, and the clock restarts if it asks for more. A variance request is not on that clock: it needs 30 days of posted notice and at least five Committee votes. A permit is valid for six months, and extensions are requested in writing.
What kind of fence can I build in Fairfield Plantation?
An open, decorative design only, up to 4 feet high, or 6 feet on an interior lot. Solid privacy and shadowbox fences are prohibited, and wrought iron style is required on Lake Tara, Lake Ashley and the golf course. The Property Compliance Committee approves every fence, and you sign an indemnity and waiver first. See our fencing page for the fence work we do.
Do I need a permit to replace deck boards?
Replacing or refinishing decking under 50 square feet does not need one. Replacing an existing deck does, and so does damaged decking over 50 square feet, though that one carries no fee or deposit.
Can I put a lift on my covered dock?
Lifts go only inside the covered slip, in non-corrosive metal, with no canopy. A personal watercraft lift is capped at 1,000 pounds.
Does Fairfield Plantation allow outside contractors?
Yes, with a commercial decal and the POA's insurance and subcontractor paperwork, within set work hours. We know that paperwork.
Building in Fairfield Plantation?
Send Ambrose a quote request. Tell us your lot and what you want, and we will tell you straight what the POA rules allow.
Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am to 1pm, closed Sunday